When head coach Thomas Ford Jr. returned to the Palouse, his message was clear: The Vandals’ identity would be built on running the football. On Saturday, Sept. 13, that vision came to life in their 20-6 win over Utah Tech University, where the Vandals rushed for 286 yards, led by redshirt sophomore Art Williams.
Williams put on a show, showcasing his crafty and physical running style as he ran all over the Trailblazers’ defense with 16 carries for a career-high 144 yards, including a 68-yard scamper in the first half that set up the Vandals in the red zone.
After the career high, Williams showed appreciation to his offensive lineman and the offense’s versatility.
“The linemen played their a**es off. I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without them, so I’m very grateful,” Williams said at a post-game press conference. “I feel like our offense is very versatile. We can run, we can pass, we can do it all.”
In a sport where few local athletes get the chance to live out their childhood dreams of playing Division 1 football in their home state, Williams has seized that rare opportunity. After an outstanding high school career, he now gets to represent Idaho every time he puts on the black and gold jersey.
Williams, a native of Boise, attended powerhouse Rocky Mountain High School. Coming out of high school, Williams was one of the top players in the state and eventually committed to the University of Idaho under then-running backs coach and current head coach Thomas Ford Jr.
Williams’ journey at Idaho hasn’t been straightforward. After redshirting his freshman year, he has slowly emerged as a featured back in the Vandal offense and looks to be the future of the Idaho backfield.
In his Vandal career, Williams has rushed 116 times for 616 yards and three touchdowns. Through the first three games of this season, Williams is off to a hot start with 42 carries for 226 yards and one touchdown. That lone score came as the game-tying touchdown late in the fourth quarter in the Vandals’ 13-10 season-opening loss to Washington State University.
With his patient and powerful running style, Williams is proving that the Friday night lights of Rocky Mountain High School were just the beginning of his story. Now, under the bright lights of the P1FCU Kibbie Dome, he’s showing the coaches, his teammates and Vandal fans everywhere that home-grown talent can thrive at the highest level.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected].